Shaft packing

ABSTRACT

A shaft packing characterized in that it is capable of transmitting electric current, whether direct or alternating, from the fixed member to the rotary member; this possibility is particularly advantageous in case it is desired to control an electromagnetic device solid with the aforesaid rotary member.

United States Patent Bardet Feb. 22, 197 2 [54] SHAFT PACKING [56]References Cited 72] Inventor: Jean-Claude Bardct, Puteaux, FranceUNiTED s ATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: Societe Internationale de Mecanlquelndus- 2 474 123 6/1949 schmitz 277/43 mene Luxembourg 2,824,760 2/1958Gits ...277/40 [22] Filed: June 8, 1970 2,899,219 8/1959 Payne ..277/43[2l] Appl. No.: 44,199

Primary ExaminerSamuel B. Rothberg Attorney-Robert E. Burns and EmmanuelJ. Lobato ABSTRACT A shaft packing characterized in that it is capableof transmitting electric current, whether direct or alternating, fromthe fixed member to the rotary member; this possibility is particularlyadvantageous in case it is desired to control an electromagnetic devicesolid with the aforesaid rotary member.

1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SHAFT PACKING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates in general to packings or seals of the typeadapted to be mounted between a rotary member and a fixed member andhaving its component elements disposed in a case to be fitted, whenassembling these members, in a cavity formed in one of said members, theconnecting member between this case and the friction ring consisting ofa diaphragm of flexible material, a coil spring reacting against saidcase and constantly exerting a resilient force against the frictionring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide ashaft packing of the type broadly set forth hereinabove which ischaracterized in that it is capable of transmitting electric current,whether direct or alternating, from the fixed member to the rotarymember; this possibility is particularly advantageous in case it isdesired to control an electromagnetic device solid with the aforesaidrotary member.

To this end an electric connection is provided between the metal case ofthe seal or packing and the friction ring made of conducting material,this connection being effected either through the pressure spring orthrough a separate bridgepiece or connecter specially provided to thisend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The attached drawing illustratesdiagrammatically three different forms of embodiment of this invention.In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary radial section showing a first form ofembodiment;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar views showing two other forms of embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The annular case 1 having asubstantially U-shaped radial section with the branches of the Usubstantially parallel to the case axis is connected to the frictionring 6 through an annular diaphragm 2 of suitable elastomeric material,which has similarly a substantially U-shaped radial section. A taperedcoil compression spring 9 bears with one end against the reinforcingring 4 and with the opposite end against the other reinforcing ring 8;the case 1 is force-fitted in a suitable cavity formed in the fixedmember or casing 12, the coil spring 9 urging the outer face of frictionring 6 against a shoulder portion of rotary member 14.

In the form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the reinforcing ring 4is in constant electric contact with the packing case 1, and the otherreinforcing ring 8 is likewise in constant electric contact with thefriction ring 6, whereby electric current can be transmitted from thefixed member 12 to the movable member 14 through packing case 1,reinforcing ring 4, coil spring 9, the other reinforcing ring 8 andfriction ring 6. The electric contact between reinforcing ring 8 andfriction ring 6 may be obtained by using a plurality of strips 8aconstituting adequate extensions of ring 8 and surrounding thecylindrical outer surface of friction ring 6.

In the forms of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 a separatebridgepiece connecting member, strip or coil 15 is interposed directlybetween the case 1 and friction ring 6.

Of course, the forms of embodiment described hereinabove are given byway of example only and should not be construed as limiting the presentinvention, since many modifications may be brought thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim is:

l. A shaft packing adapted to be mounted between a rotary member and afixed member of a mechanism to be sealed, which comprises a case adaptedto be force-fitted in a cavity formed in one of the members of themechanism to be sealed,

a friction ring adapted to be resiliently ressed against the othermember of the mechanism to be sea ed, a diaphragm of flexible materialproviding the necessary tightness between said case and said frictionring, a first reinforcing ring holding one end of said diaphragm againstsaid case, another reinforcing rig holding the opposite end of saiddiaphragm against said friction ring, a first coil compression springdisposed between said reinforcing rings so as to urge them away fromeach other, and a second coil between the first reinforcing ring and thefriction ring to constitute an electric connection between the rotarymember and the fixed member.

l I =0 l I

1. A shaft packing adapted to be mounted between a rotary member and afixed member of a mechanism to be sealed, which comprises a case adaptedto be force-fitted in a cavity formed in one of the members of themechanism to be sealed, a friction ring adapted to be resilientlypressed against the other member of the mechanism to be sealed, adiaphragm of flexible material providing the necessary tightness betweensaid case and said friction ring, a first reinforcing ring holding oneend of said diaphragm against said case, another reinforcing rig holdingthe opposite end of said diaphragm against said friction ring, a firstcoil compression spring disposed between said reinforcing rings so as tourge them away from each other, and a second coil between the firstreinforcing ring and the friction ring to constitute an electricconnection between the rotary member and the fixed member.